Discussion

The old Ruth's

My husband and I truly miss the Broad location. Does anyone have a suggestion? We are not looking for anything fancy. I should say that parking is important being we are older and valet parking is a plus.

What about Crescent City Steakhouse? Same neighborhood as the original Chris's, same style of steak. Big parking lot right behind the restaurant; bonus points for being locally owned & for returning after Katrina.

We always referred to The Track as being in Gentilly---perhaps b/c it is on Gentilly Blvd. When Allen G. "Black Cat" Lacombe died a dozen or so years ago, the post-service party was held at The Fair Grounds (off season, no less! He'd been a handicapper out there for years and ran for Governor as a joke in the early 1960's on the strength of his fame) & I remember that it was specified as being in Gentilly--not that any of The Cat's friends would need to be told that. After everyone had "a sufficiency of libations" at the now-gone Clubhouse, the bugler tooted "call to Post" and everyone went outside to see the hearse parked at the 6 furlong starting line. It took off slowly and drove casually around the track as The Cat's friends all speculated that, with his legendary Bad Luck, the thing would throw an axle at the 16th pole. But it made it through and, as tears stood in many,many eyes, the hearse drove off the track, through the parking lot, onto Gentilly Blvs, and off to the cemetary. Now THAT'S how to hold a funeral! BTW, the Clubhouse food was damn good...the legendary Corn Beef and Cabbage (whoch used to be labelled as "The Winner" was outstanding. They had excellent horseradish and creole mustard. today, you can get a very good corn beef sandwich, especially if you tip the nice ladies well. Any race track is a glorious thing, but the Fair Grounds is in my heart with onl a few others. Can't wait for Thanksgiving Day when the Meet opens....

That story is a treasure. Thank you so much for sharing that. I am a lover of horse racing and the Fairgrounds is the best. Raw oysters, corned beef and great racing .OOHLALA. Did you see that the Thanksgiving Day dinners will be auctioned on E-bay this year?Doesn't effect me I am a rail person.

All of those track employees are great, aren't they? The same two have been selling me corned beef sandwiches since before the old track burned down. I was so happy that Churchill Downs didn't get rid of the workers after they bought the place.